We work with tribe children in Mudhumalai, in the Tamilnadu state, and this project works with 500 children providing the children with school uniforms, books, bags, and other requirements for education. More teachers have been hired because the student-teacher ratio was 70:1. So far 6 teachers have been provided to three schools and the ratio has been lowered to 40:1. This has helped the drop out ratio go down in the mainstream schools. The teachers hired by Good Neighbors India are the local youth who have finished either their Teachers Training Courses or are graduates under various disciplines. In the Mudhumalai project, a day care centre is provided for the children whose parents go to work in the morning and come late in the evening. In the day care center, children are given food, pre-school education, protection and regular health care.

We have a vocational training center which caters to needs of youth. 20 youths have been given training in basic computer skills and 43 youth have been given training in tailoring. 10 youths who have completed computer training have recently gained employment. The youth who have completed training in tailoring have found employment in the garment industry and some of them are self employed. The demand for these training programs has been high because of the success they have seen with these programs.

Also, the health care center started for the tribal families have been very useful. In one month 300 to 350 tribal people have benefitted from the health center. The center has been very useful as it is well equipped and meets all the health needs of the tribal families. The doctor comes twice a week while the health worker is there every day. The doctor also goes to remote villages and the schools twice a month to perform checkups and give lectures on awareness of health issues, and prevention and curative measures.

Sarajapur Community Development Project

The Sarjapiur project has 300 children who are receiving the services of the day care center. Most of the children are the construction workers’ children.

150 children out of the 300 children are enrolled to the formal school and the children are very happy to be enrolled in the school.

The services in the day care centers are as follows:

a) Providing care and protection for the children when the parents are at work.

b) Providing supplementary nutrition, with a high protein diet, which is very essential for the children.

c) Providing midday meal for the children who have rice and Sambar as main food.

d) Providing education, using non-formal teaching aids, in an effort to prepare them for formal school education.

e) Providing health care support by conducting regular health check up camps, mega camps, and also following up on the children and the referrals for those who need further treatment.

f) Conducting awareness camps for the benefit of the parents, on topics such as personal hygiene, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, family planning, and the importance of education.

g) Putting the children to school and ensuring that they do not drop out.

h) Conducting adult education classes.

i) Running tuitions for the school going children, after school hours.

Chickjala Community Development Project

The Chickajala project has 293 children that being supported and they are children of the stone cutters who have migrated from the rural areas in search of employment. The activities are the same as in the Sarjapur Community Development Project. The families are very poor and find it difficult to care for their children so Good Neighbors provide them with the basic facilities.

In Chickajala, 80 children go to formal school and they are happy to be learning at school. All the children are bright and they look healthy and active.

100 children participated in the summer camp and another 300 children participated in the school enrolment campaign.

In 2010, we conducted workshops with a focus on awareness on sexual health, HIV /AIDS, and personal hygiene. 12 dental camps, eye camp and operation for 20 people were conducted and all of them have got back their vision. The programs were conducted in collaboration with local hospitals and health centers.

Case Study - From Death Bed To School

Muttu is a 14 year old boy but he doesn’t look like a 14 year old boy due to the illness he had. In one of the general health camps at a day care centre he was diagnosed with a heart problem and later sent to Manipal hospital for further diagnosis and he was confirmed for “SUPRACARDIAC TAPVC” (two holes in the heart). The estimated operational cost was US $4,400. His mother is the sole bread winner of the family and works as a cleaner in a convention hall where the wages are not regular or sufficient. She earns 75-80 US dollars a month and taking care of Muttu’s heart surgery was difficult for her because his father died 6 years ago. GN INDIA sensed the urgency of the medical case and approached many charitable institutions and individuals to raise funds for the operation. RK foundation in Bangalore donated US $4,000 and the Manipal hospital doctors performed surgery and provided food. Good Neighbors India provided travel, follow-ups, nutritious meals and care during surgery. The funds were mobilized by Sahayatha Trust. Muttu has now recovered from the surgery and has been attending school for the past two weeks. This is a successful story for GN because it was a challenge raising the funds, convincing his family to proceed with the operation and Muttu recovering from the operation.